Laser SB3 Ireland Midland Champs at Lough Ree Yacht Club

Action from the Ireland Midland Championships © Supersail Photography

Action from the Ireland Midland Championships © Supersail Photography

The first season for the Laser SB3 in Ireland drew to a close on the waters of Lough Ree during the 20th & 21st of October. The first batch of SB3’s only arrived in Ireland exactly a year ago but the class now has a following of over 70 boats. 31 boats made the trip to Lough Ree Yacht Club from Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Limerick and Northern Ireland. All 6 scheduled races were sailed and the OD, Vincent Rafter did a fantastic job getting all races sailed without delay. Numerous Helmsman’s Champions, National Champions and ex-Olympians were in attendance to ensure tight competition at the top of the fleet.

Four races were sailed on Saturday in 6 to 10 knots of breeze with the sun trying it’s hardest to brighten up the course. In Race 1, Ronan Collins sailing with his brother Killian and Donal Hegarty pushed hard to take the win ahead of Glenn Bourke, UK National Champion and 3 time Laser World Champion. Glenn was sailing with Enda O’Coineen & Jerry Dowling from Dun Laoghaire. In Race 2, Dave Barry, Gareth Nolan, Nevin Powell got the bullet followed by Sean Craig.

In Race 3 & 4 Ronan Collins & crew on The Kracken (3291) showed the fleet how it was done by winning two in a row, giving them an overnight lead with a score of 1,1,5,1. Sean Craig was lying 2nd overnight followed by Glenn Bourke in 3rd.

Saturday night was a hectic affair in the recently redeveloped clubhouse of Lough Ree Yacht Club. Before dinner, Glenn Bourke and Enda O’Coineen gave a very interesting presentation about the Volvo Ocean Race. After dinner everyone was glued to the television for the Rugby World Cup Final. The craic went on until late with 2 very willing barmen and Owen Hennessy & Co. playing great tunes.

Sunday morning dawned with a few fuzzy heads, a bit more breeze and the prospect of some downwind planing in 10 to 16 knots of breeze. Colin Galavan returned to the top of the fleet with a 1st in Race 5 following a disappointing start the previous day with a 14th and an OCS however he did have two 3rds on Saturday afternoon. John Malone took the helm of Helly Hansen in the absence of regular helm Tom Fitzpatrick and pulled off a 5th and a 1st on Sunday, along with a 2nd on Saturday, to gain a podium place with 3rd overall. Glenn Bourke showed great consistency with two 2nd places on Sunday to end up 2nd overall. However, the Cork crew of Ronan & Killian Collins & Donal Hegarty had done the hard work on Saturday and were happy with a 7th in Race 5. This was enough to allow the triumphant Corkmen an early shower without having to compete in the final race.

The inland waters of Lough Ree proved an interesting and very popular venue for an SB3 event with no tides, flat water and shifty breeze. The fleet prizes were kindly sponsored by Helly Hansen. In the Gold Fleet, Aiden O’Connell, sailing in his first SB3 event, took first followed by Colin Galavan in second and local sailor Christian Donagh in third. Another newcomer to SB3’s, Anthony Shanks, won the Silver Fleet followed by local sailors Martin McNamara & Donie Herraghty in second and Ger O’Rourke sailing his mini Chieftain into third. Emma McDonald received an award for best female helm and Emma received a voucher for a weekend for two in the Prince of Wales Hotel, Athlone.

Overall Results: